75 rental homes and retail proposed to replace former Cineplex in Lonsdale
![75 rental homes and retail proposed to replace former Cineplex in Lonsdale](https://dpdajlq3ew794.cloudfront.net/20201024005540/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-f.jpg?format=auto&width=1920)
The former Cineplex Esplanade theatre building in Lower Lonsdale in the City of North Vancouver could be redeveloped into a new nine-storey, mixed-use residential and retail building.
A rezoning and development application by Cressey Development and First Capital Realty calls for the redevelopment of the 1990-built theatre building at 200 West Esplanade — the northwest corner of the intersection of West Esplanade and Chesterfield Avenue.
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The three-storey theatre with six auditoriums originally opened as Esplanade 6 Cinema under Famous Players, before being taken over by Empire Theatres in 2005, Landmark Cinemas in 2013, and Cineplex in 2016.
Cineplex shuttered the Lonsdale location in April 2019, coinciding with the opening of its new North Shore location at Park Royal shopping centre with four VIP auditoriums and seven regular auditoriums.
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005523/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-2.jpg)
Site of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Rafii Architects/Cressey Development/First Capital Realty)
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005521/200-west-esplanade-north-vancouver-lonsdale.jpg)
Site of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Google Maps)
The site is under a five-minute walk from the Lonsdale SeaBus ferry terminal and bus exchange, which recently added the R2 Marine Drive RapidBus.
The proposal — designed by Rafii Architects — calls for 75 market rental homes, with a unit mix of 24 studios, 21 one-bedroom units, six one-bedroom units with a den, 12 two-bedroom units, four two-bedroom units with a den, and eight three-bedroom units with a den.
Residents will have access to an indoor amenity space on the third level that opens up to an outdoor amenity space facing the laneway.
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005537/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-8.jpg)
Artistic rendering of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Rafii Architects/Cressey Development/First Capital Realty)
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005533/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-6.jpg)
Artistic rendering of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Rafii Architects/Cressey Development/First Capital Realty)
New restaurants and retail totalling 8,612 sq. ft. of commercial space will activate the building’s street frontages.
Due to the site’s slope, the single parkade level is on the second floor of the building — above the commercial spaces. There will be just 32 vehicle parking stalls, given that the site is near the transit hub, and 117 bike parking spaces.
If approved, the building will have a total floor area of 64,743 sq. ft. for a floor space ratio (FSR) density of 3.6 times the size of the 18,000-sq-ft lot, including a 1.0 FSR density bonus for the provision of market rental housing.
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005538/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-9.jpg)
Artistic rendering of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Rafii Architects/Cressey Development/First Capital Realty)
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005534/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-7.jpg)
Artistic rendering of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Rafii Architects/Cressey Development/First Capital Realty)
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005531/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-5.jpg)
Artistic rendering of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Rafii Architects/Cressey Development/First Capital Realty)
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005530/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-4.jpg)
Artistic rendering of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Rafii Architects/Cressey Development/First Capital Realty)
![200 west esplanade north vancouver lonsdale](https://images.dailyhive.com/20201024005525/200-West-Esplanade-North-Vancouver-Lonsdale-3.jpg)
Artistic rendering of 200 West Esplanade, North Vancouver. (Rafii Architects/Cressey Development/First Capital Realty)